Editor,
It is disturbing to see that MLAs who are supposed to be servants of the public are instead behaving like kings and masters typical of the medieval period. This is an insult to democracy. For the MLA of Rambrai Jyrngam Constituency to file a privilege motion against a police official because his vehicle is asked to remove the tinted glasses in violation of the Supreme Court of India’s ruling, smacks of arrogance and ignorance both. Understandably the blame lies with the Home Department which should have put out in the public domain the names and vehicle numbers of individuals with perceived security high but it seems these days even white number plate cars take advantage of their social status too. The benefit of the doubt arises because the Apex Court has left it to the state government to decide who should and who shouldn’t be in the list of Z+ and Z++ category. When we hear hollow talk that everyone is equal in the eyes of the law then why is so much importance given to such law breakers?
Yours etc…
Dominic S. Wankhar
Shillong:3
Basic road safety features
Editor,
The editorial, “Safety first on roads” (ST Sep 2, 2019), I am afraid is too premature a hope in the context of who is manning the DTO and WHO is the Minister of Transport Meghalaya. When in the late 1990s, two trucks with Nangbah body got wedded at the narrow bend at Jylli Shop, Nongthymmai, creating a two day traffic jam to the jubiliation of school children who got unscheduled holidays, I went to Mr T.C Lyngdoh the Minister of one portfolio to inform his counterpart I/C Transport that one feet protruding on both sides of the body is highly illegal. Nowhere in any state of India are these sort of bodies allowed. In any matter of life and death, Mr Lyngdoh has been a hard working man quite disproportionate to his stature. Let me tell Shillongites that the footpath from Madanrting to Assam house, Dhanketi was the work of T.C Lyngdoh. The reckless stupid driving of the coal trucks in 3rd gear loaded with 32 tonnes of coal pose a great danger to our people without footpaths.
The stretch at Lad Smit is the stretch of liquor and drugs. The death of 10 people at Laitkor slope was due to the drugged driver. He failed to evaluate the brake failure and to avoid falling into a precipice and found a small overloaded taxi as a human jam to bring the 20 year old truck to a halt. I apologise to the families involved as it is a painful remembrance of lost ones. But I cannot help expose the rot that is going on for many years.
Coming back to these huge monsters called trucks, what I got from the very wise Transport Minister through my esteemed friend was that after going through the volume of books on the 2 feet extension of the truck’s body sideways and 2 feet backwards is NOT ILLEGAL. Outraged by this, I promised Lyngdoh that I would buy a dilapidated Fiat Car (for Rs 200) and on top of it I would install the discarded body of Air bus A.320. Lyngdoh was convinced smilingly but I do not blame him if my suggestion was too crass. This Nangbah body was the one that while over turning put a mountain of coal on top of a woman, a baby on her back and a daughter walking by her side at Mih Myntdu, choking them to death. Another victim was a lady I have known since childhood who was hit on the right shoulder by this protruding body at Jingkieng Nongthymmai footpath in the morning. How have these trucks vanished? The truckers found that the broken rims (steel which support the tyres) as a result of too much load at super elevation, proved more costly than the returns they got at Beltola so they disappeared not by the force of law but by loss of trade.
There are many rules that are blatantly violated and to write on them would require two pages of The Shillong Times. They would be dealt with one by one to educate the people who seem not to read books or apply a little drop of common sense. We had seen the futility of the over-hyped High Security Registration Plates (HSRP) especially with holograms promised. Next I would educate them on the mechanism of seat belts on the prescribed requirements of a bumper, on a span of the beam and differentials to adhere to ones in the Registration Certificates. Punishment should be meted on those who spoil the silencer with catalytic converter. Each of the above need one letter to the editor as I want to teach as I do in college in minute details for the benefit of readers also.
Yours etc.,
- Passah,
Shillong- 14
“One way Oakland – Polo road”
Editor,
For many years, the Oakland – Polo road in the town has been made into a one-way traffic road which has not made any significant impact in decongesting the traffic. Since the road was newly constructed and is comparatively broad, I fail to understand as to why it has been made into a one-way road. Moreover, the road now has turned into a parking area on both the sides, which was not the original intent for making this road. Furthermore, the traffic on this road is also not much and hence the road is not of much benefit to people as long as it remains one-way. Other roads in Shillong like the Lachumiere road, New Colony road, Gora Line road etc are so narrow and very steep and the traffic still flows in both directions. Hence I request the responsible police authorities in the traffic dept of the city to kindly review the no-entry and make the Oakland – Polo road open to traffic from both directions. This will help many vehicles going towards Police Bazar, Jail Road, Bara Bazar etc., and decongest the traffic there as now they have to make a long and unnecessary round via IGP to reach their destination thereby wasting fuel and time.
Yours etc.,
Harmit Ranhotra,
Via email